Standardized Curriculum
WAP Training Plans and Resources
Goals of Standardized Curriculum
• Compile institutional knowledge
• Create baseline
• Core Competencies
• Flexibility
• Sections
• Editable
• Useful to instructors of all experience levels
• Free to all
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Standardized Curriculum is not…
• All things to all people
• Substitute for good, engaging instructors
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Process
• Input from Trainers and the field
• Review module outlines
• Create module
• Technical and training review and field testing
• Revisions
• Roll-out
• Feedback
• Revisions
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Modules
• Installer Fundamentals
• Train the Trainer
• Installer Intermediate
• Heating System Training
for Energy Auditors and
Inspectors
• Installer – Mobile Homes
• Energy Auditor
• Crew Chief
• Technical
Monitoring/Inspecting
• Heating and Cooling
System Training for HVAC
Contractors
• Multifamily Specialties
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Example: Installer Fundamentals
• Presentation
• Speaker’s Notes
• Lesson Plans
• Sample Course Schedule
• Hands On Props
• Additional Resources
• Glossary
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What’s Included?
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Overview
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Introduction to the Weatherization Assistance Program
Communication Skills
House as a System
Building Science Basics
Blower Door Basics
Pressure and Thermal Boundaries
Combustion Safety
Worker Safety
Materials, Tools, & Equipment
Typical Weatherization Measures
Mobile Home Basics
Multifamily Basics
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Learning Objectives
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
By attending this session, participants will:
• Understand the difference between thermal and air barriers
• Know the proper location of thermal and air barriers
• Recognize the driving forces of air leakage
• Understand the connection between air leakage, energy
waste, and moisture problems
• Understand how air ducts affect pressure balances within
the home
• Understand the principle behind the blower door as a tool
for measuring air leakage
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Comfort, Safety, and Efficiency
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
A comfortable, safe, and
energy-efficient home requires:
•
A fully insulated thermal envelope
•
A well-sealed air boundary
•
The thermal and air boundaries to be continuous and
in contact with one another
•
Efficient, properly sized equipment to condition the
living space and heat water
•
A well-designed and balanced air distribution system
•
Healthy indoor air quality
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Thermal Boundary
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
The Thermal Boundary:
• Limits heat flow between inside and outside
• Easy to identify by presence of insulation
• The location of insulation in relation to other building
components is critical to its effectiveness
• Even small areas of
missing insulation are
very important
• Voids of 7% can
reduce effective R-value
by almost 50%
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Air Barrier
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
The Air Barrier:
• Limits airflow between inside and outside
• More difficult to identify
• Not always where you think it is
• Blower door is used to
locate air barrier
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Air Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Air leakage requires:
• A hole
• Pressure difference across that hole
• The bigger the hole or higher
the pressure difference, the
more airflow
• To reduce airflow, we can reduce the
size of the hole or lower the pressure
difference
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Air Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
• Airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute, also written
as ft3/min, or CFM
• 1 CFM OUT = 1 CFM IN
• Airflow takes the path of least resistance
• Air moves from high- to low-pressure areas
• Air usually moves from high- to low-temperature areas
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Air Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Direct Leakage
occurs at direct openings to
outdoors. Leakage enters
and exits at same location.
Indirect Leakage
Leakage enters at one
location, moves through
building cavities, and exits
at a different location.
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Air Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Ventilation =
Controlled
air leakage
Infiltration =
Air leaking in
Exfiltration =
Air leaking out
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Driving Forces of Air Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Driving Forces of Air Leakage
Temperature and pressure differences –
usually between inside the house and outside
The bigger the temperature or pressure difference,
the greater the air and heat flow
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Air Leakage: Temperature
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
T = Temperature Difference
Winter
Summer
70
10
T=60
90
70
T=20
hot to _____
cold
Flow is from _____
more heat and air want
The higher the T, the ______
to escape or enter the building
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Air Leakage: Pressure
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
P = Pressure Difference
Positive
Negative
positive (high) to ________________
negative (low)
Flow is from ________________
pressure
enters one CFM _______
exits
For every CFM that _______,
least resistance
Flow takes the path of _______
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Air Leakage: Driving Forces
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Types of Driving Forces
Wind
Heat – Stack effect, combustion
Fans – Exhaust fans, duct leaks, interior doors
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Driving Forces: Wind Effect
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
WIND DIRECTION
positive
pressure
Wind creates a
positive pressure on
the windward side of
the building . . .
negative
pressure
Which creates a
negative pressure
on the other sides
of the house
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Driving Forces: Stack Effect
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Stack Effect
Warmer air rises and
escapes out of the
top of the house. . .
Which creates a
suction that pulls in
outside air at the
bottom of the house
positive pressure
Neutral
pressure
plane
negative pressure
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Stack Effect
Positive pressure
(with reference to outside)
Neutral pressure plane
David Keefe
Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
Negative pressure
(with reference to outside)
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Driving Forces: Combustion & Fans
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Combustion Equipment & Exhaust Fans
Negative
pressure
Exhaust
Fan
Negative
pressure
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Driving Forces: Duct Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Duct Leakage
Duct leakage can create
positive and negative pressures
in different areas of the house
The pressures associated with
duct leaks can be larger and
more important because the
driving force is stronger
Return
Supply
All holes are not created equal!
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Driving Forces: Duct Leakage
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Duct Leakage
Closed doors that prevent
supply air from getting back
to a return cause positive
pressures in those rooms with
supply vents. . . .
Meanwhile, starving the
return for air, causing negative
pressure in the zone where
the return is located.
Return
Supply
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Driving Forces: Imbalances
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Room Pressure Imbalances
Master
Bedroom
Utility Room
Kitchen
Whole-house return in hallway
Living Room
Bedroom
Bath
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Controlled Driving Force
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
Use a Blower Door as a Controlled Driving
Force
Using the blower
door depressurizes
the house, drawing
air through all the
holes between inside
and outside
negative
pressure
Blower
Door
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Summary
BUILDING SCIENCE BASICS
• Pressure and thermal boundaries should be
continuous and in contact with each other
• Air carries heat and moisture
• Air leakage requires a hole and pressure difference
• Wind, heat and fans drive pressure differences
• Duct location and condition can cause room
pressure imbalances
• Blower door is a controlled driving force for
quantifying air leakage
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Questions?
Kelly Cutchin
kcutchin@sms-results.com
202.558.9742